Worker jailed for knifing co-worker to death while drunk

Dubai: A construction worker has been jailed for 15 years for getting drunk and stabbing his co-worker to death and also for attempting to stab another person who tried to stop the assault.

A 29-year-old Indian worker was in his bedroom at the labour accommodation when he heard a heated argument and loud cries in December around 7.30pm..

When he rushed out, he saw his roommate bleeding as a result of being stabbed by another worker, 26, also an Indian.

The worker, 29, rushed to stop the fight between his two countrymen.

Several co-workers saw the 26-year-old stabbing the victim and also trying to knife the 29-year-old when he tried to stop the assault and rescue the injured roommate.

The defendant, who was under the influence of liquor, stabbed the 29-year-old and injured his wrist as the latter tried to restrain the stabber.

On Sunday, the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 26-year-old accused of premeditated murder and murder bid.

“The murder weapon [knife] will be confiscated and the accused will be deported after serving his jail term,” said presiding judge Mohammad Jamal.

The accused had pleaded not guilty in court and contended that he did not kill the victim.

Ambulance and police teams were called to the accommodation in Jebel Ali area.

The injured worker said the accused stabbed him as well once he intervened to stop the fight between the defendant and the deceased.

“The victim was my roommate. I heard him crying in pain. I saw the defendant stabbing him with a sharp tool. I ran to stop the two from fighting but the accused stabbed me as well and injured me. He was too drunk and other workers intervened and stopped the assault. Paramedics rushed the victim to hospital,” he testified.

Another witness said the accused and the victim had earlier indulged in a fight in the accommodation’s corridor.

“Later, the accused attacked the victim again with a knife. He was under the influence of liquor,” he testified.

Dubai Police’s forensic examiner said the victim succumbed to stab wounds in the heart and chest.

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